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Metro - Columbus Playoff Thread


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#241
ivo

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Do you like the away goals tiebreaker though? To me I just think it's a definite advantage.

Lets say the game next weekend ends 2-1 Red Bulls, with Columbus scoring on a PK. Do you think if the overall score after 180 minutes is 2-2, Columbus is more deserving of advancing because it was 'harder' for them to score that PK goal on the road? That doesn't make any sense. Never has, never will in my view.

Make it single game elimination at the highest seed.

I've always hated away goals (it's not the 60s anymore), but still don't understand why you and others keep claiming playing at home in the first leg is such a huge advantage. Yes, it sure seems to work against us but if "bunker at home, win 1-0 and score an away goal" is such a brilliant strategy, the order of the games should not really matter. And this brilliant strategy never seems to work for us as we are often toothless away from home (in recent years, Crew, Montreal, Toronto (one Royer fluke goal not enough), Crew again; 4-0 win vs Chicago a notable outlier), but that's hardly the fault of the format. Definitely more about performance/execution and not format.



#242
RedBullScouse

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There were just too many situations where we were missing that killer instinct in front of goal.    They have to take more shots.    Period.   


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#243
rhactl7

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We didn't play that bad, if anything the eye test said we should have won. 

What game were you watching?



#244
ivo

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There were just too many situations where we were missing that killer instinct in front of goal.    They have to take more shots.    Period.   

Agreed. A small issue with Armas in the grand scheme of yesterday's loss, but given Rza won us a game with two wondershots earlier in the season, not throwing him on as a shoot-and-hope attempt was surprising/disappointing. If he wasn't fit enough for a 15-minute cameo when we're chasing a goal and Davis isn't having a great game, what was he on the bench for?



#245
McSoccer

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Not reflected in the stats. Outpassed 425-312, outcompleted 302-190. 1 completed cross in the box.

Effort doesnt necessarily synch with stats, especially passing stats. I would guess Muyl puts in as much or more effort than anybody on the pitch. Id also guess he rarely has the best passing stats.

#246
McSoccer

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Agreed. A small issue with Armas in the grand scheme of yesterday's loss, but given Rza won us a game with two wondershots earlier in the season, not throwing him on as a shoot-and-hope attempt was surprising/disappointing. If he wasn't fit enough for a 15-minute cameo when we're chasing a goal and Davis isn't having a great game, what was he on the bench for?

Yea, Davis has been great this year, but RZA has shown more on the offensive side of the ball. Down a goal, RZA should have seen time. I get why Armas made the subs out wide, thats where the game was for the taking and Muyl & Royer hasnt done much, but he could have also made a switch in the middle.

#247
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Serious question guys. Is Etienne any good? Or is he just a whole lot of hype?.


He is good. Not great. We needed a great wing signing in the window to make this team truly indestructible. We were given...Ivan.

IMO Etienne lacks a little more experience to make the right decisions. He was of two minds on a lot of plays in this game. Couldnt decide immediately if he should take the defender 1 v 1, drive to the end line or circulate the ball. By the time he made his decision the defense had already set itself and any advantage that might have been gained was lost. Hes best when he makes quick decisions. Even if theyre the wrong ones sometimes. Only more experience will teach him how to make the right decisions quicker.

#248
defendyourself

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He is good. Not great. We needed a great wing signing in the window to make this team truly indestructible. We were given...Ivan.

IMO Etienne lacks a little more experience to make the right decisions. He was of two minds on a lot of plays in this game. Couldnt decide immediately if he should take the defender 1 v 1, drive to the end line or circulate the ball. By the time he made his decision the defense had already set itself and any advantage that might have been gained was lost. Hes best when he makes quick decisions. Even if theyre the wrong ones sometimes. Only more experience will teach him how to make the right decisions quicker.

he drives us all crazy at times but he is one of the few people on this team who can take a player on 1 v 1 and cause some trouble.  Not really his fault that he's in such a prominent role right now.  He is a good fringe starter, who can still develop into a really good player.  

 

I keep going back and forth on who i want to start in the game.  Berhalter is a smart guy so i don't see us outsmarting him by a significant margin, we frankly just need guys to step up and play better.  Murillo needs to cross the ball in play, Royer needs to make an impact, etc. and we should be good.  We can beat anyone in this league at home by multiple goals when we are on. Columbus isn't an offensive juggernaut either.  



#249
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Yea, Davis has been great this year, but RZA has shown more on the offensive side of the ball. Down a goal, RZA should have seen time. I get why Armas made the subs out wide, thats where the game was for the taking and Muyl & Royer hasnt done much, but he could have also made a switch in the middle.

When Royer is hot hes hot, but when hes not hes pretty much useless as a midfielder. I still think his best position might be just underneath BWP. Guy has a good sense for being in the right place at the right time and he usually does a good job of pressing defenders for 90 minutes.

Hindsight 20/20 Monday morning armchair quarterbacking blah blah blah I know, BUT it might have been worth it at half to swap Kaku and Royer positionally and brought on Rzatkowski for Muyl. Ivan didnt do squat.

Youve also got this incredible weapon in Adams that if you gamble a little on a Davis Rzatkowski central midfield at half (its Rzatkowskis best position anyway) you can then take Muyl off, slide Adams out right and get him and Murillo to terrorize that flank.

Weve got guys that can play in a few different spots and cause problems without sacrificing too much defensively. If the opponent is giving you the wings then move some pieces around to really hurt them there. At half maybe we could have gone:

BWP
Kaku-Royer-Murillo
Davis-Rzatkowski
Taxi-long-Parker-Adams
Robles

Columbus gave the wings to us and since Royer, Ivan, Taxi, Murillo, Muyl, and Etienne didnt do squat this may be a good switch to go to if they roll out a similar game plan in the second leg.

Still cant believe NONE of those guys made an impact on the offensive end. Thats a lot of performances to come up empty when away goals are so valuable.

#250
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I want to see Chivas and Atlanta at home ENERGY at least.  

 

Confidence + more sharpness + Murillo making a cross + Royer getting involved + wing play from Taxi. 

I think you keep the same starting 11 but try to improve the above.

If not getting chances then put on RZA for some long shots. 


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#251
Slomojones

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We also have to credit a good Columbus team for making us look bad. I don't recall us ever getting behind their line, except when Steffen had to come all the way out against Royer. They sat at least Six guys behind the ball and sent 3-4 guys the other way when needed. I would like to see Adams or Davis shadow Higuain AT ALL TIMES.
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#252
iced1776

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What game were you watching?

 

The one where we entirely stifled Columbus's attack in their stadium, outside of one counter-attack of course, and were a few better crosses and a more fortunate bounce of the post away from getting multiple away goals.

 

The negative result sucks and in the end that's all that matters, but I don't think this was a performance to be embarrassed about. This was way closer to swinging the other direction than I think a lot of you are giving credit for.



#253
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The one where we entirely stifled Columbus's attack in their stadium, outside of one counter-attack of course, and were a few better crosses and a more fortunate bounce of the post away from getting multiple away goals.

 

The negative result sucks and in the end that's all that matters, but I don't think this was a performance to be embarrassed about. This was way closer to swinging the other direction than I think a lot of you are giving credit for.

The point is, it shouldn't have been that close, with this team, in this situation, with CBus on two days rest after an exhausting overtime match.     Everyone was looking for a statement, and we got one, just the wrong one.


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#254
Koko

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The one where we entirely stifled Columbus's attack in their stadium, outside of one counter-attack of course, and were a few better crosses and a more fortunate bounce of the post away from getting multiple away goals.
 
The negative result sucks and in the end that's all that matters, but I don't think this was a performance to be embarrassed about. This was way closer to swinging the other direction than I think a lot of you are giving credit for.

It wasnt terrible, but this is the playoffs. Yes we had some good chances to score (2 free headers one of them off the post, Royer a step too short, and BWP saved), but when your good chances arent going in you need to...create more good chances. The outside players were terrible in creating good chances.

Yeah the defense was good, but hey one good play can make or break a series. Now Columbus is in the drivers seat which is obviously not where we wanted them.

We cant keep making excuses for this team patting them on the back saying good job. They always fail to get done what needs to get done in these games. Im not expecting them to change that narrative until...they change that narrative.

#255
JBigjake54

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Effort doesnt necessarily synch with stats, especially passing stats.


Running up and down the field missing long passes does synch with poor stats. RB were hardly dangerous, against tired opposition. Attempting 3.5 passes per minute and completing 2 are indicative of a poor strategy.
I doubt that our stats in the attacking third are any better.

We are good enough to beat the best teams, and bad enough to lose to the worst teams. 





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